Guide Note
Al Gore, the former Vice President of the United States under Bill Clinton, is a Democratic politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977-1985 and in the U.S. Senate from 1985-1993. He ran for president in 2000 and narrowly lost to Republican George W. Bush. Since the 2000 election, Gore has been a major force against climate change, starring in the Academy Award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth. In 2007, he shared the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on climate change.
Fast Facts
- Born: March 31, 1948
- Political Party: Democrat
- Religion: Baptist
- Wife: Tipper Gore
- October 12, 2007: Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize
- Endorsed Democratic party presidential nominee Barack Obama on June 16, 2008
Congressional Career
Gore was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 from Tennessee's fourth congressional district at the age of 28. Gore was reelected three times, and successfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 1984. While in congress, Gore supported a number of environmental causes and wrote Earth in the Balance in 1992, shortly before being elected vice president.
Vice President
Al Gore served as Bill Clinton's vice president from 1993-2001. Early in the administration, Gore engaged in a series of debates with Ross Perot over NAFTA, arguing that the trade agreement would benefit American workers and help improve Mexico's economy. NAFTA was eventually passed and signed into law by Clinton. He was also instrumental in promoting the "Information Superhighway" and the use of technology and the Internet in American business. In keeping with his push for environmental causes, Gore championed the Kyoto Protocol which was designed to help curb global warming emissions.
2000 Presidential Bid
Gore was locked in a close general election contest with George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential election. He won the popular vote, but lost by several hundred votes in Florida, which cost him the Electoral College. After a month of recounting ballots, the dispute was settled when the Supreme Court ruled that the ballot counting was to end in its 5-4 Bush v. Gore decision. Gore accepted the court's decision and conceded the presidency.
Life as a Private Citizen
Gore has used his status as former vice president to promote his environmental agenda since leaving office in 2001. He has also been a vocal critic of the Bush Administration and the war in Iraq. He starred in the 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth which warned of the consequences of climate change. He also shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the issue.
Obama Endorsement
On June 16, 2008, Gore announced his support for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. In an e-mail to his supporters, Gore urged the group to contribute to Obama's campaign. Gore was also expected to appear with Obama at a rally in Michigan later in the day.
